Ohio Valley Filk Fest 29

Childrens Programming

KidSpace is a playroom set aside just for kids. Stocked with games, toys, books & videos, kids are welcome to hang out in this room anytime.

OVFF is proud of the quality and extensiveness of our children's programming. We are planning the usual array of fun activities for all of OVFF's kids. Scheduled activities suitable for children include: two pool parties, craft projects galore, Movie Night (with popcorn!), the Saturday Pirate Carnival & Treasure Hunt, and selected workshops.

Special Events Include

Dormouse Tea Party
The kids get their very own table at the Mad Hatter Tea Party. Special Friends (such as stuffed toys) are encouraged and hats are required. (If you forget to bring your hat, stop in an hour early and decorate one before the party.)

Saturday Pirate Carnival
Kids can play six fun carnival games and win dubloons to redeem for piratical prizes! Each child will be issued a dozen game tickets. (Children who come to the carnival dressed as pirates will get bonus tickets!)

Kids Pizza Party
This is a free pizza party for the kids while their parents are at the Pegasus Awards Banquet. Simply sign up at registration by Sat afternoon (so we know how many pizzas are needed), and drop your child off on your way to the banquet.

RPGing for Teens
Game master extraordinaire Bruce Coulson will run two game sessions designed with teen fun specially in mind Friday & Saturday evenings.

Parental Responsibility

We would like to thank the many wonderful people who have provided this
service in the past, and hope the community will continue to support us
in our attempts to make OVFF a wonderful experience for filkers of ALL ages.

Safety Policies
KidSpace is all about helping you help your child enjoy the convention. Since accidents are not enjoyable, let's work together to keep your kids safe.

Kids In Tow
Kids in Tow will, of course, be with you or another designated adult at
all times. For additional security, in case of accidental separation, you
may want to consider equipping the child with a photo of his or her adults.
This might be a laminated card diaper-pinned to clothing, a t-shirt with
an iron-on transfer, a button, a temporary tattoo, or anything else you
can imagine. The reason for suggesting photographic identification is the
possibility that not everybody at the convention will know you by name.

Kids in tow are welcome to enjoy the KidSpace facilities with their own adult. Please remember, however, that most of KidSpace is designed for school-aged children and we cannot guarantee that it is free of choking hazards.

Registered Children
Registered children, like adults, will wear membership badges while attending convention activities. Just to be safe, consider filling out the back of the badge with names and contact numbers (mobile phone, ideally) of adults who are prepared to deal with anything from discipline problems to medical emergencies. Also consider adding the number of the child's hotel room.

Allergies
In general, children in KidSpace independently are expected to be able to manage their own allergies and routine care; if this is not the case, they should have an adult on hand for their safety.
Any life-threatening food allergies must be conveyed to the children's programming co-ordinator as soon as possible, but at this point the best we are likely to be able to do is warn you away from certain things.
The co-ordinator of children's programming uses a service dog to mitigate the effects of a disability. As such, the dog will be present in the KidSpace area almost all of the time. If your child needs medication to control dog allergies, please plan ahead.

Drugs
Drugs and other medical interventions are wonderful things. If you intend your child to have such things in the KidSpace area, they must be under your child's physical control at all times so that no other child can accidentally access them. If this is impractical, medication should be retained by your child's responsible adults or be left in the hotel room. KidSpace staff cannot be responsible for any child's medication or therapy.

Swimming
KidSpace staff will be running two pool parties this year. Although there will be adult supervision at the pool parties, there is no certified life guard.

If your child is a weak swimmer or a non-swimmer, consider packing your
own assistive technology. This includes water wings, PFDs, or swimsuits with
flotation materials included. We suggest that, at a minimum, a child in the
pool alone without assistive technology should be able to float on her or
his back for some time without panic and should be able to swim a short distance
to the edge of the pool. Suitable swimming attire is required for anybody
who will be in the pool.

Behaviour
Children whose behaviour threatens their own safety or the safety and reasonable enjoyment of other children will be required to have a responsible adult with them when in KidSpace. This adult will be expected to coach the child to control problematic behaviour patterns. Children who cannot safely participate in KidSpace even with this support may be excluded.

Children with Disabilities
If your child has a disability that might affect his or her enjoyment of
KidSpace, please contact Bookwyrm to discuss what reasonable accommodations
can be provided or integrated into the KidSpace setting. Remember that the
earlier you contact us, the more adaptations are likely to be readily achievable.